Safety drive chuck

ABSTRACT

A safety drive chuck for the drive of a driven shaft is provided and comprises rotatable, open-ended socket means into which said shaft is inserted for the drive of the latter, locking means which are movable relative to said socket between a first position wherein said locking means close said socket to prevent the falling of said shaft therefrom, and a second position wherein said socket is opened to permit the removal of said shaft therefrom, and positioning means which are operable to enable movement of said locking means into said second position only when said socket is in the single position thereof which prevents the falling of said drive shaft therefrom.

United States Patent 1 Sciola et al.

[ 1 Dec. 11, 1973 SAFETY DRIVE CHUCK [75] Inventors: Joseph Sciola,Upper Saddle River;

Gabor Nagy, Clifton, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Super Chuck Company, Inc.,

, Paterson, NJ.

[22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 198,169

[52] US. Cl. 242/684 [51] Int. Cl B65h 19/00 [58] Field of Search242/684; 279/1 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,735,6842/1956 Longee 279/1 R 3,480,225 11/1969 Alexeff..... 242/68.4 3,246,8584/1966 Alexeff..... 242/68.4 3,038,680 6/1962 Rose 242/68.4

Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Assistant ExaminerEdward J. McCarthyAtzorneyJames J. Romano, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A safety drive chuck for the drive of a driven shaft isprovided and comprises rotatable, open-ended socket means into whichsaid shaft is inserted for the drive of the latter, locking means whichare movable relative to said socket between a first position whereinsaid locking means close said socket to prevent the falling of saidshaft therefrom, and a second position wherein said socket is opened topermit the removal of said shaft therefrom, and positioning means whichare operable to enable movement of said locking means into said secondposition only when said socket is in the single position thereof whichprevents the falling 0 said drive shaft therefrom.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTEfluEc 1 1 ma SHEET 1 CF 3 SCIOLA NAGYTTORNEY PATENTED DEC H I975 SPZET 2 CF 3 INVEIVIORS JOSEPH SClOLA BYGAB? NAGY fi I I ATTORNEY MGPm sin-(.999

PATENTEDnEc 1 1 197a SHEET 3 CF 3 SAFETY DRIVE CHUCK BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new andimproved safety drive chuck for the drive of shafts or the like in suchmanner that accidental opening of the chuck cannot result in the fall ofthe driven shaft therefrom.

2. Description of the Prior Art Although a very wide variety of drivechucks for the drive of shafts or the like are known, it may beunderstood that, in many instances, the accidental opening of suchchucks during use can result in the fall of the driven shaft therefromwith attendant possibility of serious injury or death on the part ofworkmen involved, and this possibility is greatly enhanced in thoseinstances wherein heavy loads of rollable material are being wound onthe driven shaft. Too, although safety chucks are known which canoperate to prevent such accidental falling, it may be understood thatthe same are generally quite difficult and/or time consuming to lock andunlock and greatly complicate the tasks of attaching driven shaftsthereto and removing the same therefrom, and that this is especiallytrue in those instances wherein 'heavy loads are wound upon said drivenshafts through operation of the chuck.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of this inventionto provide a new andimproved drive chuck having particularly safeoperational characteristics.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a drive chuck asabove which is particularly easy to operate in a manner which isconsistent with current materials handling procedures.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a drive chuck asabove which is of relatively simple construction and manner ofoperation, and one which requires the use of only readily availablematerials of proven dependability to provide for long periods ofsatisfactory, maintenance-free operation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a drive chuck asabove which is particularly adaptable for use in the winding of largerolls of heavy materials on the driven shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE As disclosed'herein, the new and improvedsafety drive chuck of the invention is designed for the drive of agenerally rectangular driven shaft and comprises a drive shaft having anopen-ended generally rectangular socket formed at one extremity thereof.A driven shaft locking collar is provided and is readily andconveniently movable between a closed collar position in which a collarsurface closes said open-ended socket to prevent the driven shaft fromfalling therefrom, to an open collar position in which said collarsurface is displaced from said socket to leave the latter open. Meanstaking the form of cooperatively associated roller cams and cam slotsare'provided and function to render impossible the movement of saidshaft locking collar into the open position thereof unless saidopen-ended socket is substantially vertically oriented in upwardlyfacing manner to thereby render impossible the falling of the drivenshaft from said socket upon accidental opening of the collar in theabsence of longitudinal movement of theformer which may, of course, bereadily prevented. With the collar in the open position thereof, removalof the driven shaft therefrom may be readily and conveniently effectedby the simple lifting of the latter out of the open-ended socket, andthis is of particular advantage when said shaft is heavily loaded as bya large roll of material which has been rolled thereon through use ofthe chuck.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and significantadvantages of the invention are believed made clear by the followingdetailed description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an application of the safety drivechuck of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2 andillustrates the chuck in the closed position thereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken in the manner of FIG. 3 andillustrating the chuck in the open position thereof;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 2 5 of thedrawings, a new and improved safety drive chuck constructed andoperative in accordance with the teachings of this invention isindicated generally at 10 and comprises a generally cylindrical housing12 having a bore 14 extending generally longitudinally thereof.

A drive shaft 16 extends as shown through the housing bore 14 and isjournalled for rotation therein in ball bearings 18 and 20. The driveshaft 16 includes a generally cylindrical flange or hub 22 formed asshown adjacent one extremity thereof.

The drive shaft 16 extends as shown beyond the flange or hub 22 toterminate in a shaft extension or extension piece 24 which includes agenerally curved surface 25 and a flat surface 26 which functions tosupport in part a driven shaft and transmit torque from the drive shaftthereto as described in detail hereinbelow.

A generally U shaped driven shaft support and locking member isindicated generally at 30 and comprises an open ended stepped bore 32extending therethrough as shown. One section or half 33 of the bore 32is of generally curved configuration and is shaped and dimensioned inpart in the manner of the generally curved surface 25 of the extensionpiece 24. Accordingly, the support and locking member 30 may be fittedover said extension piece as shown and attached to the hub 22 byattachment screws 34, it being understood that the depth of the curvedsection 33 of the bore 32 is substantially equal to the thickness of theextension piece 24L The other section or half of the bore 32 is of thedepicted generally rectangular configuration and forms an open-endedgenerally rectangular socket 36. A driven shaft is indicated at 38 andis also of generally rectangular configuration. The driven shaft isdimensioned to fit as shown within the socket 36 for driven rotation ofthe shaft by the support and locking member 30 as described in detailhereinbelow.

surface 52. The bore 42 in the collar 40 is dimensioned so that thelatter fits somewhat snugly over the periphery of the hub 22 and overthe curved portion of the periphery of the support and locking member30, with freedom for slidable movement relative thereto.

The flat surface 58 of the holding ridge 50 bears as shown against theflat surface 26 of the extension piece 24 and the flat surfaces 62 and64 of the support and locking member 30 which are disposed to eitherside of the open-ended bore section 33. As a result, it may beunderstood that the collar 40 will be rotatable with the drive shaft 16.

Generally arcuate cam slots 63 and 65 are formed as best seen in FIG. 5in the inner edge of the collar 40. Roller cams 66 and 68 are supportedas best seen in FIG. 5 form support shafts 70 and 72 which in turnrespectively extend as shown from cam shaft support portions 74 and 76which are positioned as shown in the housing 12.

The shaft locking collar 40 is slidable on the hub 22 and the drivenshaft support and locking member 30 form a closed collar position asseen in FIG. 3 wherein the flat surface 52 of the shaft locking member44 overlies the rectangular section 36 of the open-ended bore 32 in theshaft support and locking member 30 to thereby provide a closedrectangular socket for support and drive of the driven rectangular shaft38 and prevent the lifting of the latter therefrom, to an open positionof the collar as seen in FIG. 4 wherein the collar has been moved to theleft as seen in said FIG. to open said rectangular shaft support anddrive socket by movement of the locking member 44 out of alignment withthe open-ended socket 36, and permit the lifting of the driven shaft 38therefrom as described in greater detail hereinbelow.

Assuming the housing 12 to be oriented as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 5, thecooperative action between the respective roller earns 66 and 68 and therespective cam slots 63 and 65 will render impossible slidable movementof the collar 40 into the open position thereof of FIG. 4 unless thecollar is substantially in the position thereof of FIGS. 2 and 5 withresultant substantially vertical orientation of the open-ended socket 36in the upwardly facing direction. More specifically, and referring nowto the respective shapes of the cam slots as depicted for cam slot 63 inFIG. 6, it may be seen that the cooperative action between said rollercams and cam slots will only permit movement of the collar 40 to theopen position thereof of FIG. 4 if said roller cams and cam slots arerelatively positioned in the manner illustrated for roller cam 66 andcam slot 65 of FIG. 6, and it may be understood that such relativeroller cam cam slot positioning is only possible with the open-endedsocket 36 in the substantially vertically oriented upwardly facingposition of FIGS. 4 and 5. As a result, the shaft locking surface 52 oflocking member 44 will always be effective to at least partially closethe open-ended socket 36 unless the latter is substantially verticallyoriented as described, and this may be understood to render impossiblethe falling of the driven shaft 38 from the closed socket provided bythe walls of the open-ended socket 36 and the locking surface 52 oflocking member 44. Thus, in the absence of longitudinal movement of thedriven shaft 38 away from the drive chuck 10, accidental falling of saiddriven shaft from said drive chuck is totally prevented for significantsafety advantage, with the attendant advantage that the save removal ofthe driven shaft from the drive chuck may be readily and convenientlyeffected by the simple positioning of the collar 40 in the positionofFIG. 2 (as by appropriate manipulation of the drive shaft 16), theslidable movement of the collar to the open position thereof of FIG. 4,and the simple lifting as also indicated in FIG. 4 of the still safelysupported driven shaft 38 from the open-ended socket 36 in anyappropriate manner.

A typical application of the drive chuck of the invention is illustratedin FIG. 1 and comprises the use of two of the same, as indicated at 10Aand 103, respectively, to drive a driven shaft 38 for the winding of alarge roll 80 of any rollable material on the latter. In suchapplication, the roll 80 may be of a heavy fabric or the like and mayattain a weight in excess of I500 pounds, whereby is believed made clearthat any accidental falling thereof as caused, for example, by slippageof the driven shaft 38 from the drive chucks 10A and 10B, could verywell result in serious injury.

For such use, it may be understood that each of the chuck collars 40Aand 408 would be moved to the respective open position thereof, thedriven shaft 38 inserted from above into the thusly provided open-endedsockets, the chuck collars 40A and 40B moved to the respective closedpositions thereof to close the sockets around the driven shaft, androtation of the drive shafts 16A and 16B commenced to commence thewinding of the material roll 80. At the completion of winding, therespective collars 40A and 408 would be oriented as described and movedto the respective open positions thereof to enable the removal of thedrive shaft 38 and the roll 80 of material therefrom through lifting ofthe former but of the now again open-ended sockets in conventionalmaterials handling fashion. Of course, accidental falling of the drivenshaft 38 from the safety drive chucks 10A and 108 during the materialrolling operation is rendered impossible. Although in this stepwisedescription of the operation of the drive chucks 10A and 10B, themovement of the collars 40A and 40B to the respective closed positionsthereof is described as a separate step, it is believed clear that suchis not really necessary in that the cooperative actions of therespective roller cams and cam slots of the chucks will automaticallyresult in such movement of the collars 40A and 40B to the respectiveclosed positions thereof following the commencement of drive shaftrotation.

The fact that the respective cams 66 and 68, and cam slots 63 and 65,are respectively spaced, by less than 180 or, for example, byapproximately as depicted in FIG. 5, provides absolute assurance thatthere is only one drive means position in which the drive socket 36 maybe opened by the locking member 44 of the collar 40.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates the use of a pair of the safety drive chucksof the invention, it is believed clear that the same may be used singlyso long as suitable secure rotational support is provided for the remoteextremity of the driven shaft. Too, shaft support and locking member 30is disclosed as a separate piece, and it is believed clear that the samecan, alternatively, be also made integral with the drive shaft 16.Further, the driven shaft 38, and accordingly the socket provided forthe drive thereof, need not be rectangular, but rather, may take anyshape commensurate with the disclosed purposes of the invention.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and thatcertain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specificmanner of practicing the invention may be made without departing fromthe underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety drive chuck for the drive of a driven shaft including,support means, rotatable drive means comprising a rotatable, open-endedsocket of a shape which is commensurate with the shape of said drivenshaft to provide for the insertion of said shaft into said socket fordrive by said drive means, locking means having a generally cylindricalportion and being cooperatively associated with said drive means andsaid support means, said locking means being moveable relative to saiddrive means and said support means between first locking means-drivemeans positions wherein said locking means are operable to close saidsocket and prevent the falling of said drive shaft therefrom, and secondlocking means-drive means positions wherein said I socket remains open,and at least two sets of cooperatively associated positioning means onsaid support means and said locking means portion, respectively, saidpositioning means being operable to enable movement of said lockingmeans into said second locking means-drive means position only when saidopenended socket is positioned so that said shaft cannot fall therefrom,said positioning means being spaced by less than 180 on said generallycylindrical locking means portion.

2. A safety drive chuck as in claim 1 wherein, said positioning meansare spaced by approximately on said generally cylindrical locking meansportion.

3. A safety drive chuck as in claim 1 wherein, said support means arefixed and comprise a generally cylindrical bore, said generallycylindrical portion of said locking means extends into said bore forrotation of said portion therewithin, and said positioning means aredisposed within said bore to prevent contact therewith from outside saidsupport means.

4. In a safety drive chuck as in claim 1 wherein, said driven shaft isdisposed in generally horizonal manner, said open-ended socket isdisposed in general longitudinal alignment therewith, and thepositioning of said open-ended socket so that said driven shaft cannotfall therefrom comprises the orientation thereof with the open end ofsaid socket facing generally upwardly.

5. In a safety drive chuck as in claim 1 wherein, said locking means arerotatable with said drive means relative to said support means and areslidable relative to said drive means to open and close said open-endedsocket.

1. A safety drive chuck for the drive of a driven shaft including,support means, rotatable drive means comprising a rotatable, open-endedsocket of a shape which is commensurate with the shape of said drivenshaft to provide for the insertion of said shaft into said socket fordrive by Said drive means, locking means having a generally cylindricalportion and being cooperatively associated with said drive means andsaid support means, said locking means being moveable relative to saiddrive means and said support means between first locking means-drivemeans positions wherein said locking means are operable to close saidsocket and prevent the falling of said drive shaft therefrom, and secondlocking means-drive means positions wherein said socket remains open,and at least two sets of cooperatively associated positioning means onsaid support means and said locking means portion, respectively, saidpositioning means being operable to enable movement of said lockingmeans into said second locking means-drive means position only when saidopenended socket is positioned so that said shaft cannot fall therefrom,said positioning means being spaced by less than 180* on said generallycylindrical locking means portion.
 2. A safety drive chuck as in claim 1wherein, said positioning means are spaced by approximately 120* on saidgenerally cylindrical locking means portion.
 3. A safety drive chuck asin claim 1 wherein, said support means are fixed and comprise agenerally cylindrical bore, said generally cylindrical portion of saidlocking means extends into said bore for rotation of said portiontherewithin, and said positioning means are disposed within said bore toprevent contact therewith from outside said support means.
 4. In asafety drive chuck as in claim 1 wherein, said driven shaft is disposedin generally horizonal manner, said open-ended socket is disposed ingeneral longitudinal alignment therewith, and the positioning of saidopen-ended socket so that said driven shaft cannot fall therefromcomprises the orientation thereof with the open end of said socketfacing generally upwardly.
 5. In a safety drive chuck as in claim 1wherein, said locking means are rotatable with said drive means relativeto said support means and are slidable relative to said drive means toopen and close said open-ended socket.